The application for U.S. citizenship is called Application for Naturalization, USCIS Form N-400. 

The most current edition of the form is posted at USCIS website
https://www.uscis.gov/n-400

Currently, the filing fee is US$725.00.

You can submit this application by mail or online.

To submit an application online, you can create your USCIS online account at:

https://my.uscis.gov/

Under Sign In - select Create Account.

You can find additional information and test resources hare: 
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/apply-for-citizenship

Presently, the 2008 test is offered ruring the naturalization test:

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/find-study-materials-and-resources

You can watch naturalization videos here:
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/the-naturalization-interview-and-test 

In 2023, USCIS started redesigning the test. During the webconference on March 3, 2023, they explained what the pilot program is, and advised that USCIS expectation for the leval of English language proficiency is ESL Level 3. 

The Medical Exception, Form N-648, was also recently redesigned, and the new process is in effect since 2022.

Form N-648: Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.

When you seek a medical certification for disability exception because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment that prevents you from learning English and civics, please keep in mind the following:

• There is no filing fee for Form N-648. However, a medical professional may charge a fee for a medical examination and for filling out forms.
• Only a medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or clinical psychologist licensed to practice in the United States may certify Form N-648. You may contact your state medical board to determine whether the medical professional has a valid license.
• An authorized medical professional must evaluate you in person or where the state law permits, a real-time telehealth examination, and diagnose you with a condition that prevents you from completing the educational requirements in order to qualify for the N-648.
• Read and sign the Applicant’s (Patient’s) Attestation/Release of Information. A legal guardian, surrogate, or designated representative, may also sign for an applicant who is unable to undergo any part of the naturalization examination because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment

Below is a list of main changes in the new Form N-648:

• The new Form N-648 is much shorter and has been cut in half from the previous version, from 9 pages to 4.5 pages.
• Part 1, Applicant Information, has been shortened. The new form no longer requests the applicant’s Social Security Number or address.
• The number of questions in Part 3, Information About Disabilities and/or Impairments, has been greatly reduced and simplified to just key information. In particular, the question about the applicant’s daily life activities in the previous version has been deleted. The following questions have also been deleted: questions about the description of the disabilities, cause of the disabilities, dates of diagnosis, dates of onset, date/location the doctor first examined the applicant, frequency of treatment, if the doctor is the one who regularly treats the applicant, duration of treatment, name of regularly treating medical professional, and explanation of why this doctor is certifying the form instead of the regularly treating medical professional.
• Also in Part 3, the previous questions about the clinical diagnosis and the connection between the disability/impairment and inability to meet the testing requirements have been combined in the first question.
• A new section has been added: Part 4, Ability to Understand Oath of Allegiance, in which the medical professional is asked if the applicant is able to understand and communicate an understanding of the oath. In our earlier comments, we asked USCIS to remove this question from the form. The USCIS Policy Alert explains that the intent of this question is to streamline the oath waiver process by eliminating the need for a separate oath waiver request. However, we are concerned that this question will trigger a big increase in unnecessary oath waiver requests. Most doctors will not understand the oath requirements and will indicate that the applicant requires an oath waiver. Then, the applicant will need a legal guardian, a surrogate, or a designated representative who is a U.S. citizen to testify on their behalf, creating another barrier for those who cannot easily meet this requirement. CLINIC plans to raise these concerns with USCIS and request additional training for medical professionals and adjudicators on the oath waiver. In the meantime, advocates will need to work closely with the medical professional to ensure they answer “yes” if the applicant is capable of taking the oath.
• Part 5, Interpreter Information and Certification, distinguishes between in-person interpretation and telephonic interpretation and has clear instructions on how to complete this section when a telephonic interpreter was used.
• In Part 6, Applicant’s (Patient’s) Attestation/Release of Information, the signature box notes that an applicant can make a mark if they are unable to sign. This is something we requested in our comments.
• Part 7, Medical Professional’s Certification, has been simplified, with key information enumerated at the beginning.
• The Form N-648 Instructions have added information on how to file the N-648 when submitting the N-400 electronically, stating that it can be uploaded as additional evidence. In addition, the instructions have added information to clarify that a legal guardian, surrogate, or designated representative may sign for an applicant who has been deemed legally incompetent.

The USCIS Policy Manual guidance on disability waivers has undergone major revisions that make it consistent with the substance and spirit of the new Form N-648. While the previous version of the policy guidance was harsh and punitive, the new guidance is much more humane and offers more flexibility for applicants in meeting the N-648 requirements. Key changes are discussed below.

Flexibility on N-648 filing date and supplemental informationThe new guidance states that while the N-648 should be submitted as an attachment to Form N-400, “USCIS should accept a Form N-648 submitted after the applicant files the naturalization application” with none of the strict conditions imposed by the previous guidance (Part B).

If the first N-648 is not sufficient, the applicant can submit an updated form with additional information rather than a new N-648. “The resubmitted form must be signed and dated by the same medical professional who signed the original Form N-648” and will be accepted even if the form edition is now expired and no longer in use. “USCIS will also accept a letter or other medical documentation addressing the Form N-648 deficiencies, if it is signed and dated by the same medical professional who signed the Form N-648” (Part G, Section 2).

Flexibility in determining when Form N-648 is sufficient

While the previous guidance required that every question on the Form N-648 be answered fully, the new guidance provides a lot more flexibility. The guidance states that “an officer reviews the Form N-648 in its totality” and an officer reviewing the Form N-64 may determine that it is sufficient “even if some of the questions have incomplete responses… if the file and testimony establish that the applicant is eligible” (Part G).

If information is missing from the N-648, the guidance states that “the officer should review any extra documents provided by the medical professional to determine if the information completes the Form N-648” (Part E). In addition, the guidance states, “Before determining that a Form N-648 is insufficient due to missing information, officers should review all sections to confirm that the information needed does not appear in a different section of the form” (Footnote 24). The N-648 may not be found insufficient solely because Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are missing “if the medical professional has provided a sufficient description of the clinical diagnosis” (Footnote 20). Similarly, the officer “should not determine that the form is insufficient solely because the date of last examination is missing on the form if the date can be confirmed during the naturalization interview.” (Footnote 21). If their signatures are missing on the form, the officer may allow the applicant or the interpreter to sign the form at the interview (if the interpreter was the same one used during the medical professional’s examination) (Footnote 13).

Limited reasons for credible doubtThe list of examples of credible reasons to doubt the validity of the form in Part F, Section 4 has been shortened quite a bit and includes, for example, “The medical professional who completed the Form N-648 is under investigation for immigration fraud, Medicaid fraud, or other fraud schemes.” However, it is still open to a lot of interpretation by adjudicators and includes the catch-all example of “Any other articulable grounds that are supported by the record.” Providing multiple N-648s with different diagnoses and information remains a credible reason to doubt the validity of the Form N-648 in the new guidance, so legal advocates still need to review N-648s carefully for consistency when the client has more than one. In two places, the new guidance states that “in general, USCIS should accept the medical professional’s diagnosis” (Part F, Section 4 and Part G).

While the previous guidance emphasized that the regularly treating medical professional should complete Form N-648, this emphasis has been removed from the new guidance. In the past, if the form was completed by a different medical professional and lacked a sufficient explanation of why, this could be cause for credible doubt and lead to a denial.

Telehealth examinationIn Part E, the new policy guidance states that USCIS may accept a Form N-648 certified by a licensed medical professional who completed a telehealth exam. The medical professional must adhere to their state telehealth laws and requirements.

Increased transparency and communication with the applicantThe new guidance appears to improve transparency and communication with the applicant regarding the sufficiency of Form N-648. For example, if an applicant submits more than one N-648 and there are significant discrepancies between the documents, “the officer must provide the applicant with an opportunity to explain discrepancies” (Part B, Section 2). Later, it states again, “The officer must provide the applicant an opportunity to address any specific discrepancies or inconsistencies during the interview” (Part 4, Section F). If the form is insufficient, “The officer must explain why they found the form insufficient in the applicant’s preferred language, using an interpreter if needed” (Part G, Section 2). This is stated again in Part H, Section 2: “The officer must explain the reasons for insufficiency in the applicant’s preferred language verbally during the interview, using an interpreter if needed.” Before requesting a supplemental Form N-648, the officer must seek supervisory approval and “Explain to the applicant, through an RFE, the reasons for doubting the veracity of the information on the original Form N-648.” (Part F, Section 4).

Additional information can be found in November 2022 guidance.

If you have any questions, please email us to ask questions or to schedule a consultation.

Generally, being a dual national (having two or more citizenships, one of which in a TPS-designated country) does not prohibit an applicant from applying for TPS.

However, a dual national applicant should very carefully consider his or her "operative nationality" and "firm resettlement" issues before applying for TPS.

It is advisable to consult an attorney before applying.

Operative Nationality

Although US law recognizes dual nationality, a person may claim only one nationality at a time for immigration matters within the United States. This singular “operative nationality” becomes the crucial first test in assessing whether the dual national may qualify for TPS.

USCIS generally looks at how the applicant entered the US in order to determine operative nationality. For example, what passport they used to travel to the United States, and when applying for extension or change of status, how did they identify their nationality on forms and applications?

If you entered with a passport from a TPS-designated country and that country is shown on the I-94, it’s safe to say you have met the operative nationality test. If so, move to the next analysis.
 
Firm Resettlement

Even if the dual national passes the operative nationality test, the USCIS officer may still challenge by issuing a request for additional evidence (RFE) and assess whether the dual national may have firmly resettled in another country.

The law state that a noncitizen is “considered to be firmly resettled if, prior to arrival in the United States, he or she entered into another country with, or while in that country, received, an offer of permanent resident status, citizenship, or some other type of permanent resettlement”.

Under the firm resettlement analysis, simply having a passport from the non-TPS country without living in that non-TPS-country should not give rise to a firm resettlement finding. However, ask an advise from an attorney before applying.
Even if the dual national did enter the non-TPS-country, the applicant may still establish that they are not subject to the firm settlement bar by showing that there were no significant ties or there were restrictive conditions in the non-TPS-country.

USCIS explained these factors in a March 29, 2021 Questions and Answers on “Designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status,” by stating the following:
"TPS applicants may submit evidence regarding when and how they obtained their non-TPS citizenship, the nature of their family and other ties to the non-TPS country, whether they have lived in the other country, when and how long they lived in that country, dates of visits to the non-TPS country of citizenship, and any other information that the applicant believes may be relevant to the firm resettlement issue. ".

More information on TPS is here.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for TPS, you must:

• Be a national of a country designated for TPS, or a person without nationality who last habitually resided in the designated country;
• File during the open initial registration or re-registration period, or you meet the requirements for late initial filing during any extension of your country’s TPS designation (Late initial filers see ‘Filing Late’ section below);
• Have been continuously physically present (CPP) in the United States since the effective date of the most recent designation date of your country; and
• Have been continuously residing (CR) in the United States since the date specified for your country. (See your country’s TPS web page to the left). The law allows an exception to the continuous physical presence and continuous residence requirements for brief, casual and innocent departures from the United States. When you apply or re-register for TPS, you must inform USCIS of all absences from the United States since the CPP and CR dates. USCIS will determine whether the exception applies in your case.

You may NOT be eligible for TPS or to maintain your existing TPS if you:

• Have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States;
• Are found inadmissible as an immigrant under applicable grounds in INA section 212(a), including non-waivable criminal and security-related grounds;
• Are subject to any of the mandatory bars to asylum. These include, but are not limited to, participating in the persecution of another individual or engaging in or inciting terrorist activity;
• Fail to meet the continuous physical presence and continuous residence in the United States requirements;
• Fail to meet initial or late initial TPS registration requirements; or
• If granted TPS, you fail to re-register for TPS, as required, without good cause.

Briefly in Russian:

Нередко человек, подающий на TPS, имеет два или более гражданства.

В каких ситуациях USCIS утверждает TPS таким лицам с двойным гражданством, у которых потенциально есть безопасная страна?

1) Вначале проводится анализ по какому паспорту человек въехал в США, какое гражданство было заявлено при въезде.

2) Если это гражданство страны, где TPS статус был объявлен, то второй элемент теста - проживал ли человек в безопасной стране своего второго гражданства, какая связь с этой страной? 

Нередки случаи, коглда именно по этому пункту USCIS присылает RFE или запрос на дополнительные документы, и отказы по этому сонованию также бывают.

Если вы сомневаетесь, лучше проконсультироваться с адвокатом перед подачей заявления на TPS.

​Effective Dec. 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization for two years.
This update is expected to help naturalization applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive an extension of lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and may not need to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card). LPRs who properly file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, may receive this extension without regard to whether they filed Form I-90. USCIS will update the language on Form N-400 receipt notices to extend Green Cards for up to 24 months for these applicants. The receipt notice can be presented with the expired Green Card as evidence of continued status as well as identity and employment authorization under List A of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), if presented before the expiration of the 24-month extension period provided in the notice.

Prior to this change, under USCIS policy, naturalization applicants who did not apply for naturalization at least six months before their Green Card expiration date needed to file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), to maintain proper documentation of their lawful status. Applicants who applied for naturalization at least six months prior to their Green Card expiration were eligible to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp in their passport, which served as temporary evidence of their LPR status. This policy was based on the processing goal of 180 days or six months for Form N-400s, which would make filing Form I-90 unnecessary for applicants who filed at least six months before their Green Card expiration date. This policy update recognizes USCIS’ current processing times, while improving flexibility and efficiency by reducing the number of ADIT stamp appointments in field offices and the number of Form I-90s filed, which allows for these resources to be focused on other immigration benefit adjudications.
​
The extension will apply to all applicants who file Form N-400 on or after Dec. 12, 2022. LPRs who filed for naturalization prior to Dec. 12 will not receive a Form N-400 receipt notice with the extension. If their Green Card expires, they generally must still file Form I-90 or receive an ADIT stamp in their passport, in order to maintain valid evidence of their lawful permanent resident status. Lawful permanent residents who lose their Green Card generally must still file Form I-90, even if they have applied for naturalization and received the automatic extension under this updated policy. This is because noncitizens must carry within their personal possession proof of registration, such as the Green Card and any evidence of extensions or may be subject to criminal prosecution under INA 264(e). Applicants who require an ADIT stamp may request an appointment at a USCIS Field Office by contacting the USCIS Contact Center.
Visit the Policy Manual Feedback page to comment on this update. For more information, visit our Replace Your Green Card page. 

Briefly in Russian:

Если вы подаете заявление на гражданство США через натурализацию, форму N-400 после 12 декабря 2023, то вам выдадут Receipt Notice, I-797, письмо продляющее вашу грин карту на два года (24 месяца) с момента истечение.

Если вы подали 400 до 12 декабря 2023, и ваша грин карта уже истекла или скоро истекает, но вы еще не получили гражданство, вам нужно будет подать заявление на новую грин карту I-90 и заплатить госпошлину.

Question: 
I filed an I-751 application by myself without my abusive US citizen husband's help or signature. My I-751 petition to remove conditions from residency was recently granted on the basis of abuse and extreme cruelty by U.S. citizen spouse. I received my 10-year green card card.  I have been an permanent resident for more than 3 years. 

Can I apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization after just 3 years, instead of waiting for additional two years?  

Могу ли я подать заявление на американское гражданство через 3 года после первой грин карты, если моя постоянная 10-летняя грин карта была недавно утверждена на основании моей петиции, которую я подала без участия мужа на основании домашнего насилия? Я была резидентом более 3-х лет и не хотелf бы ждать еще два года.


Answer:
Yes, you can! If you filed your I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions from Residency by yourself as a waiver based on abuse and extreme cruelty, it was the only basis for a waiver, and your application was approved. It means that you can submit your N-400 Application for Naturalization after three years instead of five years.

I recommend that you consult an attorney to review your I-751 petition and naturalization eligibility to make sure that you are eligible.

Да, вы можете подать на гражданство после 3-х лет ЕСЛИ ваша петиция I-751 была подана и утверждена на основании только одного основания "домашнее насилие со стороны мужа-американца".

Перед тем как подавать на гражданство через 3 (а не 5 лет), проконсультируйтесь с адвоктом, чтобы убедиться, что вы соответствуете требованиям закона.

Сам закон внизу из Руководства офицеров иммиграционной службы США.


What the law says:

INA sec 319(a) and USCIS Policy Manual Chapter 3 - Spouses of U.S. Citizens Residing in the United States
​
F. Eligibility for Persons Subjected to Battery or Extreme Cruelty1. General Eligibility for Persons Subjected to Battery or Extreme CrueltyOn October 28, 2000, Congress expanded the provision regarding naturalization based on marriage to a U.S. citizen for persons who reside in the United States. The amendments added that any person who obtained LPR status as the spouse, former spouse, or intended spouse[13] of a U.S. citizen who subjected him or her to battery or extreme cruelty may naturalize under this provision.[14]
Specifically, the person must have obtained LPR status based on:

• An approved Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) as the self-petitioning spouse of an abusive U.S. citizen;
• An approved Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant (Form I-360) as the self-petitioning spouse of an abusive LPR, if the abusive spouse naturalizes after the petition has been approved;[15] or
• Special rule cancellation of removal for battered spouses and children in cases where the applicant was the spouse, or intended spouse of a U.S. citizen, who subjected him or her to battery or extreme cruelty.[16]

A person is also eligible for naturalization under the spousal naturalization provisions if he or she had the conditions on his or her residence removed based on:

• An approved battery or extreme cruelty waiver of the joint filing requirement for Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (Form I-751), for a conditional permanent resident, if the marriage was entered into in good faith and the spouse was subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by the petitioning citizen or LPR spouse.[17]

2. Exception to Marital Union and U.S. Citizenship Requirements for SpousesA person subjected to battery or extreme cruelty by his or her U.S. citizen spouse is exempt from the following naturalization requirements:[18]

• Married to the U.S. citizen spouse at the time of filing the naturalization application;
• Living in marital union with the citizen spouse for at least 3 years at the time of filing the naturalization application; and
• Applicant’s spouse has U.S. citizenship from the time of filing until the time the applicant takes the Oath of Allegiance.[19]

The spouse must meet all other eligibility requirements for naturalization.[20]

2005 USCIS Memorandum is here.

Conditional or permanent bars to GMC good moral character can result in the denial of your application for Naturalization, N-400, and also other applications for immigration benefits.

For example, a VAWA self-petitioner or applicant for naturalization (citizenship) will generally fail to establish that they possess good moral character if they were engaged or continue to be engaged in prostitution or gave false testimony. It can also bar a person from adjusting their status to the status of a lawful permanent resident in the United States.

Prostitution.

An applicant may not establish GMC if he or she has engaged in prostitution, procured or attempted to procure or to import prostitutes or persons for the purpose of prostitution, or received proceeds from prostitution during the statutory period.[39] The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) has held that to “engage in” prostitution, one must have engaged in a regular pattern of behavior or conduct.[40] The BIA has also determined that a single act of soliciting prostitution on one’s own behalf is not the same as procurement.[41]

Another ground is False Testimony: 

An applicant who gives false testimony to obtain any immigration benefit during the statutory period cannot establish GMC.[33] 
False testimony occurs when the applicant deliberately intends to deceive the U.S. Government while under oath in order to obtain an immigration benefit. This holds true regardless of whether the information provided in the false testimony would have impacted the applicant’s eligibility. The statute does not require that the benefit be obtained, only that the false testimony is given in an attempt to obtain the benefit.[34]
While the most common occurrence of false testimony is failure to disclose a criminal or other adverse record, false testimony can occur in other areas. False testimony may include, but is not limited to, facts about lawful admission, absences, residence, marital status or infidelity, employment, organizational membership, or tax filing information. 

​Good Moral Character requirement for Naturalization. 

There are many other conditional bars to good moral character listed in the USCIS Manual.

Permanent bars to good moral character are listed in the USCIS Manual here.

If in doubt, you should consult an immigration attorney, and have your case evaluated before applying for any immigration benefits.

In Russian:

Для многих иммиграционных заявлений требуется доказательство того, что заявитель не является аморальным человеком. В законе есть перечень условных оснований для отказа в заявлении и постоянных оснований для отказе в заявлении, на том основании, что человек считается "аморальным" (или у него/нее отсутствует "good moral character"). 

Например, проституция, дача ложных показаний и другие основания могут привести к отказу.

Если вы сомневаетесь, касается ли это вашей ситуации, проконсультируйтесь конфиденциально с адвокатом по вашему делу перед тем как подавать заявления в USCIS, а иногда и до того как начинать подготовку по делу, чтобы реально оценить ваши шансы и не терять время и ресурсы.

On May 18, 2021, the U.S. State Department announced that it will recognize the U.S. citizenship of a married couple’s child who is born outside the country if one of their parents is an American citizen. Same-sex married couples or children born via surrogate mother, IVF are included into this new interpretation.

The State Department will now approve U.S. citizenship for children born abroad to same-sex or heterosexual American parents via in-vitro fertilization, IVF, surrogacy and by other assisted reproductive means. Under the policy announced Tuesday, the child must be born abroad to married parents and at least one of the parents has to be a U.S. citizen. The child must have biological ties to at least one parent. The child can have biological ties to a foreign parent.

“Children born abroad to parents, at least one of whom is a U.S. citizen and who are married to each other at the time of the birth, will be U.S. citizens from birth if they have a genetic or gestational tie to at least ONE of their parents and meet the INA (Immigration and Nationality Act)’s other requirements. Previously, the department’s interpretation and application of the INA required that children born abroad have a genetic or gestational relationship to a U.S. citizen parent. This updated interpretation and application of the INA takes into account the realities of modern families and advances in ART (assisted reproductive technology) from when the Act was enacted in 1952”, the U.S. State Department said.

​The U.S. Department of State guidance can be found here: 

​

USCIS is revising the current Naturalization or Citizenship Test, for applicants who submitted Form N-400, The goal is to create a uniform test that assesses applicants’ knowledge and understanding of U.S. history, government and values.

This spring, the former USCIS director signed the Revision of the Naturalization Civics Test Memorandum. This memorandum announces the revision of the naturalization test and formalizes a revision schedule of the naturalization test.
​
USCIS set an implementation date in December 2020 or early 2021.

​Read more here.

On June 4, 2018, USCIS began issuing redesigned Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization. The redesign of these eight certificates is one of the many ways USCIS is working to combat fraud and safeguard the legal immigration system. 

USCIS piloted the new certificate design at the Norfolk, Tampa, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Sacramento Field Offices, as well as at the Nebraska Service Center.
​ 
The Certificates of Naturalization are: 

• N-550, issued to an individual who obtains U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process; 
• N-578, issued to a naturalized U.S. citizen to obtain recognition as a United States citizen by a foreign state; and 
• N-570, issued when the original Certificate of Naturalization is lost, mutilated, or contains errors.

A Certificate of Citizenship is issued to an individual who obtains U.S. citizenship other than through birth in the United States or through naturalization. The various types of Certificates of Citizenship are: 

• N-560A, issued to an applicant who derived citizenship after birth; 
• N-560AB, issued to an applicant who acquired citizenship at birth; 
• N-645 and N-645A, issued to the family of an individual who served honorably in the U.S. armed forces during a designated period of hostility and died as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by that service. Form N-645 is issued if the decedent was a male, and the N-645A if the decedent was a female. 
• Form N-561, issued to replace a Certificate of Citizenship when the original certificate is lost, mutilated, or contains errors.

The redesigned certificates of citizenship and naturalization feature a large, central image against a complex patterned background, which helps deter the alteration of personal data. Each certificate possesses a unique image only visible under ultraviolet light and attempts to alter it will be evident. Posthumous Certificates of Naturalization and the Special Certificate of Citizenship each bear a different image, yet feature the same fraud-deterrent security features.
Although the look and feel of the documents is new, the process of applying for and receiving them has not changed. Individuals do not need to renew their Certificates of Naturalization or Citizenship, regardless of when they were issued. The certificates we issued before the redesign will continue to be accepted as proof of citizenship. 

On October 8, 2017, the White House released a list of immigration priorities addressing border security, interior enforcement, and a merit-based immigration system. 

The priority list calls for the hiring of 10,000 ICE agents, 300 federal prosecutors, 370 immigration judges and 1,000 ICE attorneys.  

The Department of Homeland Security would be authorized to raise and collect fees from visa services and border crossings to fund border security and enforcement activities. 

The border security measures include funding the southern border wall, ending the abuse of the asylum system, discouraging illegal re-entry by enhancing penalties and expanding categories of inadmissibility, and improving expedited removal of undocumented immigrants.

Making E-Verify mandatory, putting an end to sanctuary cities by authorizing and incentivizing states and localities to help enforce federal immigration laws, and improving visa security (which was recently declared unconstitutional by a federal judge).

With regards to the merit-based immigration system, the White House's priority list reiterates what was previously announced on August 2, 2017, when President Trump unveiled the revised RAISE Act (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment). This law would reduce the number of eligible family-based green cards and create a new point-based system for awarding green cards. 

Specifically, the RAISE Act would establish a 30-point threshold for green cards, awarding an applicant higher point totals for higher-salaried jobs, professional degrees, English-speaking ability, younger applicant age, higher future salary, extraordinary achievements, and an applicant’s investing $1.35 million or more in the United States.

Some of these new immigration priorities were previously announced in the form of President's executive orders, proclamations and memos:

• January 23, 2017 EO: Protecting American Jobs and Workers by Strengthening the Integrity of Foreign Worker Visa Programs
• January 25, 2017 executive orders: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States and the Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements
• February 20, 2017 memo: Implementing the President's Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvement Policies
• March 6, 2017 EO:  Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States
• March 6, 2017 Memo: Implementing Immediate Heightened Screening and Vetting of Applications for Visas and Other Immigration Benefits, Ensuring Enforcement of All Laws for Entry into the United States, and Increasing Transparency Among Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government and for the American People
• April 18, 2017 EO: Buy American and Hire American
• September 24, 2017 presidential proclamation:  Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats

​If these priorities/proposals will become law, what does this mean for employers/employees? 

Employers will face higher costs in sponsoring foreign workers for visas, and for the employees it will become increasingly difficult to meet a high point-based system threshold in order to obtain a green card.
There will be additional delays in visa issuance due to the additional screening required. There will be litigation, and not all of the priorities will become the law.

Answer: Yes, an illiterate person can naturalize and become a U.S. citizen, but only if she is over 50 and has been a permanent resident for at least 20 years; or she is over 55 and has been a permanent resident for at least 15 years; or her inability to read or write stems from a disability.

The law provides three exemptions from the English language requirement for naturalization. The exemptions are for applicants at least age 50 who have been permanent residents for at least twenty years, those at least age 55 with at least 15 years permanent residence and for those who have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from learning English. If the applicant is exempt under any of these rules, she qualifies even if she is illiterate. She can naturalize even if she cannot read or write another language.
If the disability prevents applicants from learning U.S. history and government (Civics part of the naturalization test), they are exempt from answering civic knowledge questions as well. Otherwise, they must answer the Civics questions in their own language.

Permanent residents at least age 65 who have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years take an easier test of U.S. history and government.
If the applicant is claiming an exemption based on a disability, she needs to file USCIS form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions with your from N-400. A medical doctor or licensed clinical psychologist must sign the certification. An identifiable mental or physical disease must cause the disability. If the doctor says something like, “he’s too old to learn English,” the USCIS will deny the waiver request.
If a person is so disabled that he or she is unable to understand or agree to the citizenship oath, a legal guardian may file the application and the applicant may get U.S. citizenship.

English Language Exemptions 

You Are Exempt From The English Language Requirement, But Are Still Required To Take The Civics Test If You Are:

• Age 50 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and have lived as a permanent resident (green card holder) in the United States for 20 years   (commonly referred to as the “50/20” exception).
  OR
• Age 55 or older at the time of filing for naturalization and have lived as a permanent resident in the United States for 15 years (commonly referred to as the “55/15” exception).

Note:

• Even if you qualify for the “50/20” or “55/15” English language exceptions listed above, you must still take the civics test.
• You will be permitted to take the civics test in your native language.
• If you take the test in your native language, you must bring an interpreter with you to your interview.
• Your interpreter must be fluent in both English and your native language.
• If you are age 65 or older and have been a permanent resident for at least 20 years at the time of filing for naturalization, you will be given special consideration regarding the civics requirement.

For more information, see the USCIS Policy Manual Citizenship and Naturalization Guidance.

Information about Naturalization Test is here.

Soldiers in the U.S. Army Reserve are suing the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security for stalling their citizenship applications after they joined the military through MAVNI, a program that promised them fast-track naturalization for their service.

“Each plaintiff-soldier has kept his/her end of the bargain,” their lawsuit states. The immigrant recruits did their part by enlisting, training in drills with their unit, and subjecting themselves to deployment. The U.S. Army certified their service, and the military is supposed to provide citizenship as soon as they complete basic training or attend drills.

But at the Pentagon’s request, the Homeland Security Department is not processing their applications, as required.

Pentagon and Homeland Security officials now say they are considering going back and changing who is eligible to receive a certification of military service, possibly even revoking the certifications for those soldiers not in active-duty service. 

Although the soldiers named in this suit received their certifications, they “could be considered signed in error and may be decertified,” said Director of Military Accession Policy at the Pentagon, citing the program’s guidance.
The delay has put some soldiers at risk of deportation, the lawsuit states. These soldiers are “suffering irreparable harm” and financial strain as they face uncertainty about their status, unable to get a job, a drivers license, or a passport to visit sick family members, their attorneys say.
The 10 reservists who brought the suit were recruited through the Pentagon’s Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, known as MAVNI, which gives expedited citizenship to legal immigrants who enlist with critical language skills or medical training.
Nearly 10,000 immigrants are in the MAVNI program, most of them serving in the Army. The popular program was allowed to accept 5,000 recruits in 2016, but was frozen last fall after security concerns about the vetting of recruits.

Now the Pentagon is considering scrapping it altogether, according to an internal memo included in the suit. This would leave roughly 1,000 non-citizen recruits at risk of deportation despite being enlisted in the U.S. military.
​Read the full article here.

Matter of FALODUN, 27 I&N Dec. 52 (BIA 2017).

There is a big difference between Certificate of Citizenship and Certificate of Naturalization. Both of them serve as evidence of U.S. citizenship status. However, unlike Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship does not confer United States citizenship but merely provides evidence that the applicant previously obtained citizenship status (derived through a parent).

When a person has a Certificate of Naturalization, it means that they applied for U.S. citizenship, passed the test and all background clearances, and their application was approved, and U.S. citizenship was granted.

​When a person has a Certificate of Citizenship, it means that they applied for a document as evidence of their U.S. citizen status. When USCIS approves the application for Certificate of Citizenship, the USCIS merely verifies the records and issues a document, as a proof of the U.S. citizenship status. The applicant doesn't apply for citizenship and doesn't take the test. The applicant applies for a proof or evidence of his or her citizenship. 

On June 2nd 2017, the BIA held that institution of judicial proceedings to revoke naturalization are not required to cancel a certificate of citizenship, which the Department of Homeland Security can cancel administratively upon a determination that an applicant is not entitled to the claimed citizenship status.

BIA held: "A certificate of citizenship only provides documentation of United States citizenship for persons who claim to have obtained that status derivatively. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 341.1, 341.2(c) (2016). It does not confer United States citizenship but only furnishes recognition and evidence that the applicant has previously obtained such status derivatively, that is, upon the naturalization of a parent or parents. See Section 341(a) of the Act. Thus, the issuance of a certificate of citizenship, like a United States passport, only serves as indicia of citizenship. It is not a grant of United States citizenship. Because the respondent’s United States citizenship claim was based on fraud, his Certificate of Citizenship is void." 

Facts: The respondent is a native and citizen of Nigeria who was born in Benin City, Nigeria, on June 30, 1981. He obtained lawful permanent resident status in 1996 as the stepchild of a United States citizen who was married to the respondent’s alleged adoptive father. The respondent’s claim to United States citizenship derives from the naturalization of his putative custodial adoptive father in 1995. On February 17, 1998, the respondent was issued a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560).

In removal proceedings, evidence of foreign birth gives rise to a rebuttable presumption of alienage, shifting the burden to the respondent to come forward with evidence to substantiate his citizenship claim. Matter of Rodriguez-Tejedor, 23 I&N Dec. 153, 164 (BIA 2001) (citing Matter of Leyva, 16 I&N Dec. 118, 119 (BIA 1977)); Matter of Tijerina-Villarreal, 13 I&N Dec. 327, 330 (BIA 1969).

Assessing the respondent’s claim to citizenship, the Immigration Judge noted that the evidence of record raises serious questions whether the respondent has ever qualified as a United States citizen. Specifically, the record includes an August 20, 2002, notice of intent to cancel the respondent’s Certificate of Citizenship (“NOIC”) issued by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”), alleging that the certificate had been obtained by fraud.

The NOIC was based on information obtained in connection with a Federal criminal investigation. This investigation revealed that the respondent’s putative adoptive father was actually his biological brother. Although the respondent claimed that his biological father had died in 1983, records indicated that, as of 2002, he was alive and living in Nigeria. The NOIC further alleged that the respondent submitted a fraudulent adoption certificate. In his October 23, 2002, response to the NOIC, the respondent presented a letter from an attorney specifically denying each of the allegations in the NOIC. He also submitted a purported death certificate for the person the respondent alleged was his biological father. The death certificate was issued more than 8 months after this individual’s death and just days before the respondent’s response to the NOIC was due.

In a decision dated April 21, 2003, the District Director concluded that the evidence the respondent provided in response to the NOIC was insufficient to overcome the evidence supporting the cancellation of the Certificate of Citizenship. He determined that the Nigerian adoption decree submitted on the respondent’s behalf was fraudulent and that he did not derive United States citizenship through his biological brother under former section 321(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1432(a)(2) (1996), which was in effect when the respondent turned 18 years old. The District Director therefore cancelled the respondent’s Certificate of Citizenship after concluding that it had been obtained by fraud. On March 29, 2004, the Administrative Appeals Office (“AAO”) dismissed the respondent’s appeal from the District Director’s decision
 
The respondent does not claim United States citizenship through naturalization. Instead, he was issued his Certificate of Citizenship under section 341 of the Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1452 (1996), based on his claim of derivative citizenship through the naturalization of his brother, who the respondent fraudulently claimed was his adoptive father.

To read the decision, click here.

A new Department of Defense and DHS rule that bars MAVNI recruits from receiving security clearances until they complete their first term of service has crippled the ability of soldiers to earn a commission and prevents the military from using their talent for years.
Earlier this spring, Dr. Kusuma Nio was anticipating two things in May. The trauma surgeon hoped to deploy with his Army Reserve unit to Afghanistan, where his expertise in treating catastrophic injuries would be vital to U.S. and Afghan forces roiled by resurgent militants.
The other thing: on May 5th, he was expected to naturalize and become a U.S. citizen.
Instead, he is watching his fellow soldiers of the 1st Forward Surgical Team based in New York leave for war. His path to citizenship has been delayed "indefinitely".

His citizenship oath was postponed indefinitely April 13 2017 by the United States Citizenship Immigration Service, who told him the Defense Department has suspended all applications from foreign-born recruits looking to serve.
​
MAVNI or Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program was implemented in 2009 to take advantage of medical and language skills critical to the success of military operations around the world.
Newly imposed requirements issued in a Pentagon memo Sept. 30, 2016 — when the program was renewed — have created a backlog of applicants.

A rule that bars MAVNI recruits from receiving a security clearance until they complete their first term of service has crippled the ability of soldiers like Nio to earn a commission and prevents the military from using their talent for years. Until then, his time as a reserve specialist is spent cleaning scalpels instead of using them in life-saving surgery.
Nio and others are left asking a simple question: If the military wanted their talents, why are they sitting around not using them?

“I’m a fully qualified and American-trained surgeon. It doesn’t make sense to me,” Nio said.
Margaret Stock, a retired Army officer central in creating the MAVNI program, said May 8, 2017 that the reforms are so severely counter to the original intent of the program that it is now imploding, sending ripples throughout the military that will hurt recruiting, undermine its security missions and send personnel spending into a frenzy as the force pays bills for native troops to receive top medical and language training.
“This isn’t extending the program,” Stock said of the new measures. “This is destroying the program.”
Stalled by new rulesThe MAVNI program has attracted thousands of legal immigrants, offering a fast track to citizenship in exchange for vital medical expertise and cultural and language skills. The military identifies skills in “critical shortfall” and sets goals to bring qualified candidates into the service, according to the Sept. 30 Pentagon memo extending the program until September.

About 10,400 soldiers have entered the Army through the program since 2009, Army spokesman Hank Minitrez said May 9 in an email.

The decision to bar MAVNI recruits from receiving security clearances during their first enlistment term severely limits the contributions that soldiers like Nio can make, Stock said. Doctors cannot receive a commission without the clearance. Enlisted troops cannot enter special operations, civil affairs or intelligence fields, while troops with deep skills in languages such as Russian, Arabic and Pashto are restricted for years from doing the job the Pentagon said they desperately need to be done now.
Another big change: Applicants were required to have a legal immigration status for two years and complete background checks in order to enlist. They could start the Tier-5 investigation before shipping off to training while the long process unfolded, Minitrez said.

Now, recruits must complete a Tier-5 investigation before they get orders for training. The process takes months and involves investigations from the Justice and Defense departments and intelligence agencies, Minitrez said.

Stock said the Army was unprepared for the flood of additional requirements, leaving personnel soldiers scrambling to complete case files without proper training while soldiers piled up in the system. Soldiers like Nio are trapped in a classic military Catch-22 as he continues as a reservist, still unable to attend the basic officer leaders course.

“We haven’t been naturalized, so we can’t go to basic. But we can’t go to basic because we haven’t been naturalized,” he said.
Applicants are screened by the State and Homeland Security departments and other agencies when they get visas, which makes them the most vetted recruits in the military, Stock said.

Green-card holders, who are permanent residents but not citizens, are not subject to the rules, she said.
​
“The new rule is especially pernicious because the requirements for passing [additional screenings] are completely different from the ‘good moral character’ required for citizenship,” Stock said.
“That’s not the legal standard for naturalization,” and the new requirements have not been imposed on immigrants naturalized in the past few years, Stock said.
Process breakdownThe Army, which according to service data is the biggest user of the MAVNI program, has defended the new security measures.
“The background checks are time-consuming and extensive, but we owe it to our soldiers in the ranks and the American people to ensure everyone joining has been properly vetted,” Minitrez said.
MAVNI recruits have been highly sought in Special Operations Command, for instance, due to their reliability and cultural skills vital to training and fighting with foreign troops.
“If you’re going to sneak into the military, this is the last program you’d go through,” she said.
The Army has acknowledged the new Pentagon requirements have severely bottlenecked the process since September.

About 1,000 Army recruits — nearly a quarter of the 4,200 waiting for background check approvals — have been in limbo so long that they no longer have legal immigration status and need extensions or exemptions from USCIS, according to an internal Army document marked “for official use only” but posted online in April. Minitrez and others were listed as the point of contact for information. The document is no longer online.

Minitrez declined to confirm that number, referring the query to DHS and USCIS. The New York Times reported that the number could be as high as 1,500.

While those delay occur, recruits without legal status can’t obtain a job if they are reservists and are subject to deportation.

Unused skills

The Army’s execution of new regulations has frustrated Nio.
Before recent changes, MAVNI could churn out minted troops with citizenship in hand in one to four months, Stock said. But the new restrictions have jolted the program enough to turn off future applicants, Stock said. While recruits with language skills await security clearances to begin training, they must enlist in other specialties that do not correspond with their skills.
“There’s no point to the program if all it does is produce extremely well-vetted truck drivers,” she said.
Nio said his motivations were different than some others. He holds a visa reserved for immigrants with special skills, and the hospital where he works can easily sponsor his legal status.
“This is a perfect way to give back and to serve and to learn,” Nio said about his path to becoming an Army doctor. “There is nothing like combat surgery.”
After earning his doctorate at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Nio enlisted as a specialist in 2015 with the agreement that he would earn his commission as a captain. His contract required him to serve six years in the Army Reserve and two in the inactive Reserve, he said. He finished his background investigation in April 2016, with his oath of citizenship and commissioning on track for this month, he said. But the restrictions have stopped all progress, he said.
Nio works at a Level 1 trauma center in his civilian job, where he treats patients with gunshot wounds, severe burns and injuries sustained from car wrecks, along with surgeries for conditions like appendicitis and hernias, he said.
Contrast that with his placeholder Army reservist occupation: operating room specialist. The job involves sterilizing equipment and cleaning rooms between patients. The experience disparity equates to a pilot grounded to scrape bug splatter off an F-16.
“I’m almost through a third of my service time already,” he said. “You have someone ready to go, and sitting as a specialist?”

Luckily, Nio said, his unit sympathizes with the disconnect between his skill and his rank.
Surgical teams in his unit conduct realistic training during their drill weekends, he said. Patients eviscerated by imaginary IEDs and gunfire flood medical tents. Nurses and medics buzz around Nio, who plays the role of trauma surgeon.
The training is realistic, but his authority is a facade. Once Nio removes his scrubs and stores his instruments, he steps out of the tent as a junior enlisted soldier.
Nio’s unit will arrive in Afghanistan this month as the country braces for another Taliban offensive and Islamic State militants seek to regain footholds. Sharp violence has recently struck U.S. troops there. Two Army Rangers were killed April 26 during a fierce battle with Islamic State militants, and three soldiers were wounded in a suicide car bomb explosion May 3 in Kabul.
“My unit is desperate for surgeons to go on this deployment,” he said. “And I’m just saying goodbye to everyone.”

​Read the article at Stars and Stripes here.

March 30, 2017 update on MAVNI program (U.S. citizenship through military service):

At some point in the past, it was a very popular and efficient program allowing foreign nationals to become US citizens through service in the U.S. Military: Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines and National Guard. 

In a video, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and immigration attorney Margaret Stock share the most recent developments. Since fall 2016, the MAVNI program is effectively being shut down. There are numerous delays in naturalization (currently, NSC official processing time is two years!), applicants are facing additional and retroactive requirements. In many cases, USCIS started doing a second round of security background checks, even for those applicants who were already approved. There have been reports of applicants being denied because they had a certain foreign relative living abroad (of course, foreign recruits would have foreign relatives -- they are foreign nationals!). There have been reports of U.S. citizens (former MAVNI recruits) being denied promotion in the military because they are naturalized citizens.

Presently, the US Department of Defense requires all applicants to be "in a lawful immigrant status" when they go to the basic training, and if not in a lawful status, they are required to apply for "deferred action" through USCIS, which is often denied. Atlanta, Georgia is noted as one of the jurisdictions with the most denials. DACA program is a form of a deferred action, which is accepted into this program, as well.

Briefly in-Russian:

Программа получения американского гражданства через военную службу, MAVNI program, претерпевает огромные изменения в сторону ужесточения правил (проводятся проверки "задним числом" уже после утверждения). К заявителям на американское гражданство через военную службу теперь предъявляются "новые" требования. Как говорят адвокаты, начали проводиться дополнительные расследования - в том числе тех, кого уже утвердили.

Иммиграционные адвокаты делятся статистикой отказов (множество отказов из Атланты, Джорджия). Адвокаты приводят примеры того, как их клиенты получили отказ по причине наличия определенных "близких родственников" за пределами США, которые не являются гражданами США. Ну конечно у них будут такие родственники - ведь суть этой программы в том, чтобы дать возможность получения гражданства США иностранными гражданам, и само собой, у них еть родственники за границей!

​Сроки ожидания гражданства через службу в армии (по статистике из иммиграционного центра в Небраске) в настоящий момент составляют 2 года.

Адвокаты, специализирующиеся в натурализации через воинскую службу, предсказывают увеличение количества судебных исков от рекрутов как результат отказа или задержек в рассмотрении заявлений на натурализацию. 

Министерство обороны США с осени 2016 ввело новое требование к рекрутам: теперь они требуют, чтобы заявитель был в "легальном статусе", и отсюда вытекающее новое требование получить статус deferred action, которое USCIS нередко отказывают. С точки зрения права, это требование не имеет смысла, так как deferred action не дает никакого легального статуса человеку, находящемуся в США после истечения статуса (визы), а только определенную и небезграничную защиту от депортации.

В целом, анализ заставляет задуматься о том, что возможно в будущем программа MAVNI будет аннулирована или станет непрактична или нереалистична для большинства рекрутов, желающих таким образом получить американское гражданство.

Вы можете посмотреть официальное видео от Американской ассоциации иммиграционных адвокатов, датированное 30 марта 2017 на youtube. 

​

UPDATE Following the court order, on Saturday, February 4, 2017, the DHS released the following statement:

"From the Department of Homeland Security (DHS):In accordance with the judge's ruling, DHS has suspended any and all actions implementing the affected sections of the Executive Order entitled, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States."
This includes actions to suspend passenger system rules that flag travelers for operational action subject to the Executive Order.
DHS personnel will resume inspection of travelers in accordance with standard policy and procedure.
At the earliest possible time, the Department of Justice intends to file an emergency stay of this order and defend the President's Executive Order, which is lawful and appropriate. The Order is intended to protect the homeland and the American people, and the President has no higher duty and responsibility than to do so.
For the latest information, please visit the DHS website: https://www.dhs.gov/news"

02/01/2017 UPDATE on so called Muslim ban executive order (List of 7 restricted countries: Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Somalia, Yemen & Libya):

USCIS

On February 2, 2017, the Acting Director of the USCIS confirmed that "...the Executive Order does not affect USCIS adjudication of applications and petitions filed for or on behalf of individuals in the United States, regardless of their country of nationality."

***The previous contrary statements issued by the USCIS and DHS officials are no longer valid.​***

This means that we can expect that all applications filed with USCIS in the United States by (the 7 countries) will be adjudicated.

In Russian:

​2 февраля 2017 USCIS Директор официально уведомил публику о том, что указ президента о лицах из семи мусульманских стран НЕ распространяется на заявления и петиции, поданные в пределах США в иммиграционную службу USCIS, даже если поданы заявителями из этих 7 стран. Это хорошие новости. Так как даже Asylum офис прекратил рассматривать эти заявления, но они начнут рассматривать заявления как и ранее после такого официального заявления.

P.S. ситуация меняется каждый день. Следует следить за официальными сообщениями.

--------------------------------------------

CBP

On February 1, 2017, the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) held a meeting with immigration attorneys in San Francisco, CA:

As reported by San Francisco immigration attorneys in attendance, the CBP provided the following explanations regarding executive order ban:

1) All U.S. Legal Permanent Residents will be let into the U.S. without waivers, as of yesterday (Wed., Feb. 1st) afternoon. This includes U.S. Legal Permanent Residents from the 7 banned countries. (Note: The INA - Immigration & Nationality Act is a federal statute. In Section 212 of the INA, it states that all U.S. Legal Permanent Residents have to be let into the U.S. So, CBP is now complying with the law on this.)

2) All dual citizens will be treated as if from the country they present themselves from (which passport they use). So, if someone has French Citizenship and Iranian Citizenship, and uses their French passport, they should be let into the U.S. If they use their Iranian passport, they will not be let into the U.S.

3) CBP confirmed that officers will search electronic devices and social media of anyone it wants more info. on. They called this one of their tools of investigation.

4) Advance Parole travel permits for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) will be honored until they are told otherwise, unless it is an individual from 1 of the 7 banned countries.

5) CBP has not heard of and is not aware of any additional countries that will be added to the list of 7. (On 02/02/2017 the US Department of State also released a statement, saying that DoS has no information about any additional countries  being added to the List of 7.)

6) All U.S. Citizens, even with dual citizenship from restricted countries, will be let into the U.S.

7) Airlines have been given instructions by CBP on who to let board airplanes. This does not mean that some airline employees will bar people from boarding that should be allowed to board.

8) Anyone with a medical issue while in primary or secondary inspection will be attended to by paramedics and taken to the hospital if necessary. If inspection is not complete, a CBP officer will go with the individual to the hospital.

P.S. Situation is very fluid, and can change in the future. It's advisable to follow any official announcement by USCIS, CBP, ICE, Department of State.

A an adult Korean adoptee who is awaiting deportation from an immigration detention center in Washington State because he lacks American citizenship, even though he has lived in the United States since he was 3 years old.

Last month, an immigration court denied his final request to stay in the United States.

Officials at South Korea’s Ministry say they know of at least five adoptees who were deported back from the United States. But advocates for Korean adoptees say there may be more than twice as many, some undocumented.
Tossed back to a country they had left decades ago, these adoptees were once again foreigners struggling to adapt to an unfamiliar culture and language.

This can happen to a person who was adopted from a foreign country without following a proper procedure for applying for legal document, a proof his or her US citizenship. Sometimes people don't even realize the seriousness of their situation and lack of legal status in the United States until it's too late.

​Read more here. 

​USCIS published two important updates to filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization (aka Application for U.S. citizenship), now that it is processed electronically.

All applicants (except those who reside overseas):

• No longer need to submit two passport-style photographs. We will capture their photographs when they appear at the Application Support Center (ASC) for their biometrics appointment.
• Will be scheduled for a biometric service appointment at a local ASC for collection of their fingerprints, photographs and signature, regardless of their age.

USCIS used to waive the fingerprint requirement for applicants 75 years or older, which meant they were not required to appear at an ASC. However, now that this form is processed electronically, those applicants do need to appear at an ASC. Our improved technology means we can capture fingerprints for applicants of all ages. This enhances our ability to confirm their identity and perform required background checks.  Applicants aged 75 and older do not have to pay the biometrics fee.
All domestic USCIS facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. However, USCIS can make special arrangements to accommodate the needs of the elderly and applicants with disabilities, who are homebound or hospitalized.  This is known as homebound processing. Applicants who need to request an accommodation for their appointment can submit a service request online or call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at any time at 800-375-5283 (TDD: 800-767-1833).  

Please note: At this time, you cannot submit Form N-400 applications online.
​
Beginning April 13, 2016, applicants who submit the revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization (dated March 26, 2016) may be invited to create a USCIS online account to track and manage their case online depending on how their form is processed. If you submit the revised Form N-400, you may receive a USCIS Account Acceptance Notice in the mail with instructions on how to create a USCIS online account.  USCIS will continue processing your application even if you choose not to access your online account.  USCIS also will continue to send you copies of notifications about your case by mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

Briefly in Russian: вкратце по-русски.

Произведены два важных изменения при подаче заявления на натурализацию (гражданство) США, форма N-400.

(1) вам не нужно подавать паспортные фото с вашим заявлением,
и
(2) вне зависимости от возраста, вас пригласят на отпечатки пальцев, фото и образец подписи.

Ранее лица старше 75 были освобождены от требования отпечатков пальцев. На сегодняшний день лица любого возраста будут приглашены на отпечатки пальцев, но лица старше 75 освобождены от уплаты 85 долларов за отпечатки.

Новая форма N-400 пока подается по почте, но рассматривается электронно. USCIS пришлет вам приглашение создать свой аккаунт онлайн.

The Department of Homeland Security granted citizenship to hundreds of people who had previously been ordered deported or removed under different names because of flaws in keeping fingerprint records, according to a report released Monday.
The report from the department’s Office of Inspector General found that nearly 900 individuals were granted citizenship because neither the agency nor the F.B.I. databases contained all of the fingerprint records of people who had previously been ordered to be deported.

Nearly 150,000 older fingerprint records were not digitized or simply were not included in the Department of Homeland Security’s databases when they were being developed, the report said. In other cases, fingerprints that were taken by immigration officials during the deportation process were not forwarded to the F.B.I.

“This situation created opportunities for individuals to gain rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship through fraud,” said John Roth, the inspector general at Homeland Security.
Officials say the findings illustrate a major security gap.

“This failure represents a significant risk to America’s national security as these naturalized individuals have access to serve in positions of public trust and the ability to obtain security clearances,” Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wrote in a letter to Jeh Johnson, the secretary of Homeland Security.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, an agency within Homeland Security that oversees citizenship, is supposed to check the fingerprints of applicants for citizenship against a number of databases to make sure that they do not have criminal records or pose a threat.

But since the fingerprint databases are incomplete, the agency had no way of knowing if the individuals were actually who they said they were.

Investigators found that in more than 200 cases they examined, none of the individuals disclosed that they had another identity or that they had final deportation orders on their naturalization application.
As naturalized citizens, these individuals retain many of the rights and privileges of American citizenship, including serving in law enforcement, obtaining a security clearance and sponsoring the entry of other foreigners into the United States, the report said.

For example, investigators with the inspector general’s office said they learned that at least three people, who became naturalized citizens after having been deported under a different name, had obtained the necessary clearances to conduct security-sensitive work at commercial airports or at ports and aboard ships. Since being identified, all have had their credentials revoked, the report said.

The inspector general’s report said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had investigated few of the naturalized citizens to determine if their citizenship should be revoked. That agency is working to increase its inquiries and digitize all its fingerprint records.

In a statement, Homeland Security acknowledged the issues raised in the report. The statement added, “It is important to note that the fact that fingerprint records in these cases may have been incomplete at the time of the naturalization interview does not necessarily mean that the applicant was in fact granted naturalization, or that the applicant obtained naturalization fraudulently.”

​Read here. 

Recent update from USCIS:

If you are applying for U.S. citizenship through a process known as naturalization (filing a USCIS form N-400), you can now use a credit card to pay the Form N-400, Application for Naturalization fee. 

Most applicants must pay a $680 fee, which includes biometrics fee.

To pay with your credit card, you must file a Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction. 

At this time, USCIS accepts payments by credit card ONLY for one application, Form N-400, application for naturalization. This can change in the future. You should always review the form's instructions online before filing.

Here is the form: http://www.uscis.gov/g-1450 and instructions how to pay with a credit card.

On Friday, October 16, 2015, a federal judge in Texas declined to order Texas officials to institute a temporary fix so children of undocumented immigrants born in the United States can get their birth certificates while a lawsuit filed by their parents is being tried.  

Instead of issuing a temporary injunction order sought by the plaintiffs (the undocumented immigrants who were denied their U.S. citizen children's birth certificates), U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that the case should proceed through the full hearing process given the complexity of the issues involved. 

Pitman’s ruling comes two weeks after attorneys for the families told the judge that the children’s civil rights had been violated because county registrars, by order of the Texas Department of State Health Services, would not issue birth certificates because the parents did not present one or more acceptable forms of ID. More than 30 families have joined the suit since the initial complaint was filed in May.

“Although the Plaintiffs have provided evidence which raises grave concerns regarding the treatment of citizen children born to immigrant parents, this case requires additional determinations which can be made only upon development and presentation of an evidentiary record,” Pitman wrote in a 27-page decision.

The parents in the lawsuit contend that IDs previously used to obtain the vital records, specifically the Mexican Consular ID (called the matrícula consular) and foreign passports, were accepted in some counties just months ago until the department amended its policies without warning.

Now, some of the undocumented immigrants parents can't request their US-born children's birth certificates because the parents lack proper and acceptable by the Organs of Vital Statistics photo ID documents.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the ruling an “important first step in ensuring the integrity of birth certificates and personal identity information. Before issuing any official documents, it’s important for the state to have a way to accurately verify people are who they say they are through reliable identification mechanisms.”

Read news here and court opinion here. 

On September 09 2015, USCIS Announces Revised Procedures for Determining Visa Availability for Applicants Waiting to File for Adjustment of Status.

USCIS, in coordination with Department of State (DOS), is revising the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status. The revised process will better connect USCIS procedures with the US Department of State (DOS) procedures, which are used for foreign nationals who seek to become U.S. permanent residents by applying for immigrant visas at U.S. consulates and embassies abroad.

The Visa Bulletin revisions implement November 2014 executive actions on immigration announced by President Obama and Secretary of Homeland Security Johnson, as detailed in the White House report, Modernizing and Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st century, issued in July 2015. 

What is Changing.

Starting October 1, 2015, you will be able to submit your application for adjustment of status or for an immigrant visa before your priority date is current. 

Two charts per visa preference category will be posted in the DOS Visa Bulletin:

• Current priority dates for particular visa categories; and
• The earliest dates for filing application for adjustment of status (earliest dates when applicants may be able to apply).

See October 2015 Visa Bulletin here. However, the priority dates in the Visa Bulletin can retrogress in November. Consult an attorney about your specific case so you won't miss the opportunity of applying earlier.

When filing an application for adjustment of status, I-485, an applicant can concurrently file an application for a work permit and advance parole. This is great news for many immigrants waiting for many years for their priority dates to become current. However, it's a good idea to consult an immigration attorney before applying.

Each month, in coordination with DOS, USCIS will monitor visa numbers and post the relevant DOS Visa Bulletin chart. Applicants can use the charts to determine when to file their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

To determine whether additional visas are available, USCIS will compare the number of visas available for the remainder of the fiscal year with:

• Documentarily qualified visa applicants reported by DOS;
• Pending adjustment of status applications reported by USCIS; and
• Historical drop off rate (for example, denials, withdrawals, abandonments).

About the Visa Bulletin.

DOS publishes current immigrant visa availability information in a monthly Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin indicates when statutorily limited visas are available to prospective immigrants based on their individual priority date.

• The priority date is generally the date when the applicant’s relative or employer properly filed the immigrant visa petition on the applicant’s behalf with USCIS. If a labor certification is required to be filed with the applicant’s immigrant visa petition, then the priority date is when the labor certification application was accepted for processing by Department of Labor.
• Availability of an immigrant visa means eligible applicants are able to take one of the final steps in the process of becoming U.S. permanent residents. 

Read more here.  

On November 20, 2014, the President announced a series of executive actions. However, not all of these initiatives have been implemented, and USCIS is not accepting any DAPA or expanded DACA applications at this time. 

Beware of anyone who offers to help you submit an application or a request for any of these actions before they are available. You could become a victim of an immigration scam. 

If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure that the person you rely on is an attorney who is authorized to give you legal advice. Only an attorney or an accredited representative working for a Board of Immigration Appeals-recognized organization can give you legal advice. An immigration attorney can be licensed in any state because immigration law is federal law. It's important to consult an experienced and knowledgeable attorney before submitting any immigration applications.

The Internet, newspapers, radio, community bulletin boards and local businesses storefronts are filled with advertisements offering immigration help. Not all of this information is from attorneys and accredited representatives. There is a lot of information that comes from organizations and individuals who are not authorized to give you legal advice, such as “notarios” and other unauthorized representatives. The wrong help can hurt. Here is some important information that can help you avoid common immigration scams.

Here are some examples of common immigration scams:

**Telephone Scams**.

Do not fall victim to telephone scammers posing as USCIS personnel or other government officials. In most instances, scammers will:

• request personal information (Social Security number, Passport number, or A-number);
• identify false problems with your immigration record; and
• ask for payment to correct the records.

If a scammer calls you, say “No, thank you” and hang up. These phone calls are being made by immigration scammers attempting to take your money and your credit card information. USCIS will not call you to ask for any form of payment over the phone. Don’t give payment over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official.

If you have been a victim of this telephone scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Learn more about telephone scams and telephone scammers’ techniques by visiting Federal Trade Commission-Telemarketing-Scams. 

**"Notario Publico"**.

In many Latin American countries, the term “notario publico” (for “notary public”) stands for something very different than what it means in the United States. In many Spanish-speaking nations, “notarios” are powerful attorneys with special legal credentials. In the U.S., however, notary publics are people appointed by state governments to witness the signing of important documents and administer oaths. "Notarios publico,” are not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration.

Please see the National Notary Association website "What is a Notary Public" for more information.

**Local Businesses who are not law firms and not attorneys or lawyers**.

Some businesses in your community “guarantee” they can get you benefits such as a:

• Visa
• Green Card
• Employment Authorization Document

These businesses sometimes charge you a higher fee to file the application than even a licensed attorney (but will tell you that attorneys charge more "for the same work"). They claim they can do this faster than if you applied directly with USCIS. These claims are false. 

**Dot-com websites - operated by non-attorneys or people not authorized to give legal advice**.

Some websites offering step-by-step guidance on completing a USCIS application or petition will claim to be affiliated with USCIS. Many of these websites are scammers or fraudsters, often taking money for blank forms or minimal assistance without attorney supervision.

USCIS has its own official website: www.uscis.gov with:

• Free downloadable forms
• Form Instructions
• Information on filing fees and processing times

Do not pay for blank USCIS forms either in person or over the Internet. You can download forms for free at www.uscis.gov.

Do not pay to a non-attorney (not a lawyer) for help with immigration paperwork, applications, affidavit. Oftentimes, they give you wrong advice and can potentially damage your chances of ever becoming a permanent resident (getting a green card).

**Green Card Lottery or DV Lottery scams**.

Once a year in fall, the Department of State (DOS) makes 50,000 diversity visas (DVs) available via random selection to persons meeting strict eligibility requirements and who come from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. During this time or often around the year, it is common for immigration scammers to advertise in emails or websites that reference either the:

• DV lottery
• Visa lottery
• Green Card lottery

These emails and websites often claim that they can make it easier to enter the annual Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. Some scammers even identify you as a DV lottery “winner” and ask for significant amount of money "helping get a visa". These emails and websites are fraudulent. 

The only way to apply for the DV lottery is through an official government application process (Department of State website, and only when it's open, during an application period which is usually in October-November only). DOS does not send emails to applicants. 

On or after May 1st, you can visit the Department of State website to verify if you are actually a winner in the DV lottery. 

If need help, consult a licensed attorney (not one of the "green card lottery" websites).

**INS doesn't exist. It's been replaced by DHS and USCIS**.

To this day, some local businesses, websites, "notarios"  and individuals make reference to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This agency no longer exists! 

If someone refers to USCIS as "INS", it's a sign that they are not an attorney, but rather someone unqualified with little knowledge in immigration matters.

INS was dismantled on March 1, 2003, and most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the component that grants immigration benefits. The other two components are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

All official correspondence regarding your immigration case will come from USCIS. USCIS will communicate with you and your attorney by mail, by mailing you notices, approved work permit and green card through USPS (postal service).

If you need a legal assistance, we will be glad to help. Our contact information is here.

Read here. 

Applicants from all over the world who registered for the DV-2016 program were selected at random from 11,391,134 qualified entries (17,573,350 with derivatives) received during the application period that ran from noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 until noon, Eastern Daylight Time on Monday, November 3, 2014. 

The visas have been apportioned among six geographic regions with a maximum of seven percent available to persons born in any single country. 

The Kentucky Consular Center registered and notified the winners of the DV-2016 diversity lottery. Approximately 91,563 applicants have been registered and notified and may now make an application for an immigrant visa (so called"selectees" or "winners"). Some of the first *50,000 persons registered will not pursue their cases to visa issuance, this larger number (91,563 selectees) should insure that all DV-2016 numbers will be used during fiscal year 2016 (October 1, 2015 until September 30, 2016).

During the visa interview, principal applicants must provide proof of a high school education or its equivalent, or show two years of work experience in an occupation that requires at least two years of training or experience within the past five years. Those selected will need to act on their immigrant visa applications quickly. Applicants should follow the instructions in their notification letter and must fully complete the information requested. 

Registrants living legally in the United States who wish to apply for adjustment of status instead of consular processing of their visas, must apply through USCIS Department of Homeland Security (** Please note that you have to be eligible for adjustment of status. Therefore, if you were selected as a winner in the Green Card lottery and you live in the United States, it's advisable to consult an experienced attorney before applying for your green card). 

Once the total *50,000 visa numbers have been used, the program for fiscal year 2016 will end. Selected applicants (aka "selectees" or "winners") who do not receive visas by September 30, 2016 will derive no further benefit from their DV-2016 registration. Similarly, spouses and children accompanying or following to join DV-2016 principal applicants are only entitled to derivative diversity visa status until September 30, 2016.

Section 203(c) of the INA provides up to 55,000 immigrant visas each fiscal year to permit additional immigration opportunities for persons from countries with low admissions during the previous five years. The NACARA stipulates that beginning with DV-99, and for as long as necessary, up to 5,000 of the 55,000 annually-allocated diversity visas will be made available for use under the NACARA program. This resulted in reduction of the DV-2015 annual limit to 50,000. DV visas are divided among six geographic regions.  No one country can receive more than seven percent of the available diversity visas in any one year.

P.S. Our office would be happy to assist you with your DV visa application or adjustment of status should you be selected as a winner. Please email us to schedule a phone or Skype consultation. Please remember that a visa must be issued prior to September 30th of the current fiscal year (09-30-2016 for DV-2016 winners). No visas will be issued after this date. If selected as a winner you should act fast and submit your applications and required documents in a timely matter. Assistance of a qualified and experienced immigration attorney would be of great help to many. 

The following is the statistical breakdown by foreign-state chargeability of those registered for the DV-2016 program: 

AFRICA

ALGERIA  1,952

ETHIOPIA  4,000

NIGER  102

ANGOLA  108

GABON  32

RWANDA  412

BENIN  914

GAMBIA, THE  67

SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE  2

BOTSWANA  4

GHANA  3,179

SENEGAL  427

BURKINA FASO  199

GUINEA  1,818

SEYCHELLES  0

BURUNDI  208

GUINEA-BISSAU  4

SIERRA LEONE  2,141

CABO VERDE  6

KENYA  2,729

SOMALIA  272

CAMEROON  3,047

LESOTHO  5

SOUTH AFRICA  535

CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.  23

LIBERIA  4,430

SOUTH SUDAN  17

CHAD  40

LIBYA  240

SUDAN  3,216

COMOROS  3

MADAGASCAR  75

SWAZILAND  7

CONGO  124

MALAWI  17

TANZANIA  93

CONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE  4,475

MALI  114

TOGO  1,241

COTE D’IVOIRE  1,129

MAURITANIA  15

TUNISIA  227

DJIBOUTI  92

MAURITIUS  41

UGANDA  453

EGYPT  4,024

MOROCCO  1,993

ZAMBIA  57

EQUATORIAL GUINEA  0

MOZAMBIQUE  11

ZIMBABWE  152

ERITREA  544

NAMIBIA  18

ASIA

AFGHANISTAN  406

JAPAN  302

QATAR  42

BAHRAIN  13

JORDAN  349

SAUDI ARABIA  267

BHUTAN  22

NORTH KOREA  0

SINGAPORE  39

BRUNEI  1 

KUWAIT  143

SRI LANKA  704

BURMA  236

LAOS  1

SYRIA  460

CAMBODIA  1,229

LEBANON  225

TAIWAN  297

HONG KONG SPECIAL
ADMIN. REGION  151

MALAYSIA  95

THAILAND  73

INDONESIA  126

MALDIVES  3

TIMOR-LESTE  0

IRAN  4,501

MONGOLIA  185

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES  103

IRAQ  330

NEPAL  3,801

YEMEN  724

ISRAEL  162

OMAN  12

EUROPE

ALBANIA  1,931

GREECE  93

NORWAY  35

ANDORRA  0

HUNGARY  186

POLAND  629

ARMENIA  1,277

ICELAND  3

PORTUGAL  58

AUSTRIA  50

IRELAND  89

  Macau  23

AZERBAIJAN  380

ITALY  410

ROMANIA  626 

BELARUS  811

KAZAKHSTAN  376

RUSSIA  2,200

BELGIUM  47

KOSOVO  244

SAN MARINO  0

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA  92

KYRGYZSTAN  209

SERBIA  283

BULGARIA  865

LATVIA  73

SLOVAKIA  70

CROATIA  67

LIECHTENSTEIN  0

SLOVENIA  33

CYPRUS  28

LITHUANIA  153

SPAIN  193

CZECH REPUBLIC  74

LUXEMBOURG  0

SWEDEN  108

DENMARK  35

MACEDONIA  258

SWITZERLAND  122

ESTONIA  40

MALTA  0

TAJIKISTAN  337

FINLAND  57

MOLDOVA  1,854

TURKEY  1,795

FRANCE  510

MONACO  0

TURKMENISTAN  124

  French Polynesia  1

MONTENEGRO  8

UKRAINE  4,507

  Saint Martin  1

NETHERLANDS  81

UZBEKISTAN  4,300

  Wallis and Futuna  1

  Aruba  4

VATICAN CITY  0

GEORGIA  571

  Curacao  2

GERMANY  678

NORTHERN IRELAND  9

NORTH AMERICA

BAHAMAS, THE  16

OCEANIA

AUSTRALIA  832

NAURU  12

SAMOA  5

  Cocos Islands  1

NEW ZEALAND  208

SOLOMON ISLANDS  0

FIJI  393

  Cook Islands  4

TONGA  26

KIRIBATI  4

PALAU  4

TUVALU  0

MARSHALL ISLANDS  0

PAPUA NEW GUINEA  3

VANUATU  5

MICRONESIA, FEDERATED STATES OF  3

SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND THE CARIBBEAN

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA  0

DOMINICA  6

SAINT KITTS AND NEVIS  2

ARGENTINA  68

GRENADA  7

SAINT LUCIA  5

BARBADOS  0

GUATEMALA  31

SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES  7

BELIZE  0

GUYANA  14

SURINAME  3

BOLIVIA  49

HONDURAS  73

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO  51

CHILE  17

NICARAGUA  58

URUGUAY  21

COSTA RICA  50

PANAMA  5

VENEZUELA  1,038

CUBA  1,488

PARAGUAY  7

P.S. Natives of the following countries were not eligible to participate in DV-2016: Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China (mainland-born, excluding Hong Kong S.A.R., Macau S.A.R., and Taiwan), Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, United Kingdom (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and Vietnam. 

Our office would be happy to assist you with your DV visa application or adjustment of status should you be selected as a winner. Please email us to schedule a phone or Skype consultation. Please remember that a visa must be issued prior to September 30th of the current fiscal year (09-30-2016 for DV-2016 winners). No visas will be issued after this date. If selected as a winner you should act fast and submit your applications and required documents in a timely matter. Assistance of a qualified and experienced immigration attorney would be of great help to many.